The Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan has opened up about his experiences with body shaming in a new social media post, revealing his port-wine birthmarks in a heartfelt call for more body positivity.
In a rare show of vulnerability, Corgan explained how he’s spent decades covering up the purple-ish discolouration on his left hand and arm, after being ridiculed as a child.
““I’m a fan of body positivity movements because at the end of the day it is about celebrating what makes us ‘us’,” the Pumpkin leader wrote.
He also shared an image of model Carla Bertotti, who has been “defying beauty standards” courtesy of significant birthmark on her face.
“So as you see, here is a beautiful young woman (@carlotta_bertotti ) with a birthmark who has embraced her ‘difference’ with grace,” Corgan continued. “My point being that my whole life I’ve endeavoured to hide my ‘port wine’ birthmarks because as you can imagine I was teased unmercifully about them as a child. So much so that people who have known me for a decade are shocked when they finally ‘see it’. And even now strangers will stop me on the street not because they recognize me but because they think something is wrong with me that requires medical attention.”
His statement continued:
“Plus the random questions:
Is that a burn?
Are you sick?
Is it contagious?
Does it hurt?
So positive message for the day: Whoever you are, I hope you find peace with who you are because: I would like to know that person and no one else”
You can suss his full post up above.
Corgan’s message was met with a tidal wave of love and support.
It comes after The Smashing Pumpkins recently released their 13th studio LP, Aghori Mhori Mei.
You can catch Billy Corgan live in solo mode, backed by local rockers The Delta Riggs, on the lineup for Good Things Festival this December.
Further Reading
The Smashing Pumpkins Announce New Album, ‘Aghori Mhori Mei’
The Smashing Pumpkins Unveil New Guitarist Following Global Search
Billy Corgan Calls Kurt Cobain “The Most Talented Guy of Our Generation” in New Interview
